More detail on this person: Lt. Col. Henry
"Hank" P. Giedzinski, USMC (Ret.) 72, of Kennett
Square, died on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013, at
LifeCare Hospital of Chester County.
Strong until the end, he was surrounded by his
wife of 47 years, Kathleen Fagan Giedzinski, and
his loving family. Hank was born in New Britain,
Conn., son of the late Henry A. Giedzinski and
Cecilia Augustyn Giedzinski. He graduated from
St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 1959, enlisted
in the Navy, and was then selected to attend the
Naval Academy Preparatory School in Bainbridge,
Md. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in
1966, and was commissioned as a second
lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Three days after graduation, Hank and Kathy were
married at St. Maurice Church in New Britain.
During his career as a Marine Corps helicopter
pilot, Hank flew 500 combat missions in Vietnam,
was responsible for helicopter support during
minesweeping of the Suez Canal, and was an
instructor pilot in the U.S. and overseas. Most
notably, he was a pilot in Marine Helicopter
Squadron One in Quantico, Va., and was assigned
to fly President Jimmy Carter. One of Hank's
proudest moments was when he flew His Holiness
Pope John Paul II during his first visit to the
United States in 1979. Hank's final billet in the
Presidential Helicopter Squad was as the executive
officer.
Known as a dedicated leader and an officer of
exceptional integrity whose military bearing was
above reproach, Hank still had many dear friends
from his days in New Britain, Annapolis, Quantico,
Pensacola and New River. After 20 years of
honorable military service, Hank retired from the
Marine Corps as a lieutenant colonel in 1985.
He, Kathy and family moved to Pennsylvania, where
he worked as a project engineer for Boeing Vertol.
Highly respected as an authority on the H-46
helicopter, his career at Boeing spanned 27 years
until he retired in 2012.
Retirement allowed him to spend more time with his
friends, family, children and grandchildren, and
to enjoy daily walks with Kathy through the
grounds of Winterthur and Longwood Gardens. They
shared a love of boating, visiting Topsail Island
in North Carolina, and watching sports. An avid
fan of Navy football and an active alumnus, Hank
held season tickets to the Navy games and enjoyed
many fall visits to Annapolis. Go Navy!
In addition to his wife, Hank is survived by his
daughter, Gail Mazzatenta (and husband Aaron) of
Ashburn, Va.; his son, David Giedzinski (and wife
Nichole), of York, Pa.; his daughter, Sara Lewis
of Baton Rouge, La.; and his four grandchildren,
Megan, Samuel, Adam and Cecilia. He also leaves
two brothers-in-law, Peter Fagan (and wife Gail)
and Jack Fagan (and wife Julie); his half brother,
H.B. Giedzinski (and wife Stacy); and a number of
aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
You are invited to visit with Hank's family from 6
to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, at the Kuzo &
Grieco Funeral Home Inc., 250 W. State St.,
Kennett Square, 610-444-4116, and from 8:45 to
9:45 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, at St. Cornelius
Catholic Church, 160 Ridge Road, Chadds Ford.
His Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. on
Friday at the church.
Interment with full military honors will be held
at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery in
Virginia.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in
Hank's name (Lt. Col. Henry P. Giedzinski) to
Class of 1966 Cyber Center Gift, c/o United States
Naval Academy, 291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD
21402. To view Hank's online tribute, please
visit www.griecocares.com Published in Daily
Local News on September 16, 2013
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/11/2023
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